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Celebrating 50 years of partnership with Italy in advancing justice and security through innovation and dialogue

27th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice

27th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ)

UNICRI 1968-2018

Celebrating 50 years of partnership with Italy in advancing justice and security through innovation and dialogue

Vienna, 18 May 2018. Within the framework of the 27th Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice (CCPCJ) in Vienna, UNICRI is organizing a side event co-sponsored by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the International Organizations in Vienna.The side event, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Institute’s establishment in Italy, will be held on Friday, 18 May 2018, in Conference Room M6.

High level speakers include: H.E. Ambassador Maria Assunta Accili Sabbatini, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations in Vienna; H.E. Ambassador Giorgio Marrapodi, Director General for Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy; Dr. Jafar Javan, Director a.i. of UNICRI; the Deputy Head Prosecutors Ms. Maria Vittoria De Simone, Mr. Giovanni Russo and Mr. Maurizio Romanelli from the Antimafia and Antiterrorism Directorate of Italy.

Established in 1968, UNICRI has gained 50 years of experience in addressing crime threats that have serious consequences on good governance, sustainable development and human rights, by adopting a holistic and multi-sectorial approach that is grounded on applied research, exchange and dissemination of knowledge, capacity building and strong partnerships.

In line with the Institute’s work for achieving a just, equitable and secure world, the side event will highlight the long-standing and successful partnership with Italy in supporting the global community on crime prevention, criminal justice and security matters. The meeting will draw conclusions for UNICRI’s future strategic framework within Goal 16 of the 2030 Agenda. It will be an occasion to present the most recent achievements in counterterrorism and social cohesion, and opportunities and challenges of exponential technological changes for security and crime control.

During the event Dr. Maria Falcone, Italian Judge Giovanni Falcone’s sister and President of Foundation Giovanni and Francesca Falcone, will be nominated as advocate of UNICRI. The nomination is to pay tribute to Judge Falcone and to all those who sacrificed their lives on the front lines for us to be free from fear. Their legacy is an imperative to continue their fight against organized crime and end impunity in the name of justice and the rule of law.

The nomination of Maria Falcone as advocate of UNICRI testifies the courage of people fighting against the mafia organizations. Too many judges, police officers and civilians have died in this war and their sacrifice is a deep scare on our community. Their legacy, the legacy of judge Giovanni Falcone, should guide our efforts against transnational organized crime and strengthen the culture of legality. Much more should be done through international cooperation; actions to end impunity and connivance; alliances between the institutions and the civil society; and education and employment to prevent the engagement of young people in criminal groups.

The side event will be divided into three sessions:

Session I: The role of civil society in countering radicalization and violent extremism in the Sahel Maghreb, rehabilitation and reintegration of violent extremists will focus on context-specific and people-centred approaches to prevent violent extremism; sharing experiences and good practices, enhancing cross-border cooperation and fostering synergies and mutual understanding between civil society actors and local and national authorities; and rehabilitation and reintegration of violent extremist offenders and returning foreign fighters;

Session II: Enhancing security, human rights and development through research, technology and innovation will discuss the global impact, opportunities and challenges of exponential technological change, with a focus on blockchain, supply chain security and responsible life science; and monitoring and countering the infiltration of organized crime into the legal economy through Big Data Analytics and Visualization technology.

Session III: Nomination of Prof. Maria Falcone as advocate of UNICRI: the legacy of Giovanni Falcone in the fight against transnational organized crime. In April 1992, Giovanni Falcone attended the first meeting of the CCPCJ. One month later he was killed together with his wife and three policemen by a bomb planted by the mafia. His assassination pushed the international community and led the General Assembly to endorse Italy's proposal to host the first international conference on transnational organized crime. The outcome of that conference, the Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (the Palermo Convention), came into force in December 2003.

Prof. Maria Falcone, through the Giovanni and Francesca Falcone Foundation is committed to ensure that her brother’s legacy lives on. She is encouraging young people to follow in her brother’s footsteps by reaffirming the culture of legality, the power of communities against the deadly arrogance of organized crime